Leaders of six progressive student campaigns at Cornell held a press conference Feb. 20 to announce their plans for the year and draw connections among their efforts.
"We're in the process of making a huge coalition, probably the biggest Cornell has ever had, environmentally, culturally, politically and socially," said Daivati Baharadvaj '99, steering committee member of United Progressives.
The press conference in the art gallery of Willard Straight Hall was filled with supporters of the campaigns as well as students who came to observe the presentations. Representatives from the Cornell Greens, the Cornell Democrats, Cornell Organization for Labor Action, United Progressives, the Feminist Action League and Students United spoke on the related nature of issues of the environment, government funding to higher education, welfare, labor, community issues and the student governance structure at Cornell.
Kristina Eng '97, vice president of internal operations for the Student Assembly, said she came thinking it was a Students United meeting and was impressed by the representation from other groups. "Some of them I strongly support and some of them I'm less supportive of, but I can appreciate the passion that they have. As a Christian student on campus, I really believe that people need to be respected and that there are certain issues that the progressive community addresses that are important to hear."
Student Assembly member George Ortiz '98 agreed with his colleague. "It was refreshing to hear the scope and magnitude of the greater issues at hand. I applaud the activists, and I hope the spirit of activism continues."
Isaac Kramnick, the Richard J. Schwartz Professor of Government, provided the students and reporters on hand with a historical perspective, commenting on Cornell's history of student activism from both the right and the left. He dwelled on what he saw as the unique nature of the current efforts.
"What I am seeing on campus is probably the most concentrated student progressive movement I have seen for the past 25 years," he said. "What's unique about your activism is a unity on the progressive front that didn't exist in the '60s."
"It's really exciting to be involved in this resurgence of campus activism," said grad Cory Carter. "I hope that the university responds to the concerns that students are expressing."
Echoing Carter's sentiment, Julie Chon '98, student-elected trustee, noted that "students are clearly zeroing in on outcomes which are necessary to building community at Cornell and promoting the vitality of the institution."
"The administrations' work will be strengthened by our efforts," said Anjana Samant '97, president of the Feminist Action League.
Speaking as a candidate of Students United, a group of 16 progressive student government candidates representing the six campaigns launched at the press conference, Kardon Stolzman '98 said, "I can't remember the last meeting where so many students were represented. It's a testament to the dedication of Cornell students for the community as a whole, rather than individual or organizational needs."
Calling the press conference "very rousing," Kristi Graunke '97, a member of Cornell's Organization for Labor Action, expressed her satisfaction with its effectiveness. "I liked the unity between student groups. Because our demands are financially complicated, we really need to streamline our activist efforts."